What Does A Very Nice Paint Job Cost Today??

[EZ Nova]

Ok I've been following this as I might be in the market with a car or 2? I think I'm looking at about the same quality as what "WHITETOP" is for a nice driver. And being up in Canada, I was figuring the cost would be more, but not looking that way????

There is a small shop I spoke with that just finished "restoring" a mid 70's BIG CAR Pontiac convertible. This was with welding on the floors and rear quarters, working the truck, doors and fenders. Price was $14K. said he had about a grand in "paint stuff" and rest was mostly labour and consumables.

But what it strange is when guys come on here and say the COST of stuff is? Like tape, paper welding equipment??? Isn't "most" of this included in you high shop rates???? Now don't get me started on the shop rate as I HAVE my own machine shop so I know quite well the costs of consumables. So when I quote on doing a $30,000 injection mold and thinking the 2/3 months it takes me, and guys are doing that doing paint and body???? Yet I HAVE to used 100 of thousands of dollars worth of equipment and programing ABOVE the cost of consumables??? Thinks like Die-Sink EDM's, 3/4 axis CNC mills, precisions grinders and MASTERCAM CadCam that's about 20K up here alone????

Now before anyone gets uptight, YES I know you have Paint booths and equipment. But do you honestly think that you have anywhere near the investment that a full machine shop with CNC capabilities has???? I was just at one of the shops I did work for, they have bought a few more CNC lathes in the last 2 years. The last one was 1.3 Million???

And YES most machine shops will get more PER HOUR, but to what extent?? I was in the $90.00/hr range, made good money and had as much free time as I liked.

I know the governments are screwing these trades up to some extent with regulations, but come on, "MOST" classic cars are not worth more than $50K. For for someone who just wants and nice driver, like this Mustang painted, and to get prices in the high teens to $25K, that not only crazy, but also killing a big part of this hobby?

FYI I DID bodywork in highschool co-op and for 2 years after. I'm no pro and been out for 30 years. But I know any respectable body guy can get a fairly decent car to paint stage in about 2 weeks or LESS. No major work, just stripped to bare metal, fix door dings and gaps, epoxy primer, filler prime and into the both in 80 hours or less, IF they work on it. Another 3 days to buff after paint. I just don't see the $$$$ for most people`s cars. These are not Ac Cobra`s, Yenko`s. Hemi`s or other special or 1-off cars. These are your run of the mill, 350 Nova or 289 Mustang or even Impala`s.